God decides how and who

Despite the long description of how to construct tabernacle, ark, altar, lampstand etc., I'm not sure there is quite enough detail for a craftsman to simply follow the instructions. You could imagine someone asking God, "How big should the pomegranate decorations be and what shape do you want the bells which alternate with them? Open-bottomed like handbells or little globes like sleighbells?" In order to get the place of worship built to his specifications God not only outlines his plans, but he appoints particular people to carry out the work (Bezalel and Ahisamach), to whom he gifts the required skills.

When I look at the church and the community we live in, then it's not difficult to understand what plans God has for us. At least I can envision an ideal world in which all people live in harmony and love one another in practical ways. Exactly how we construct such a world is not so clear. But then I realise that God has actually called me by name to be one of those engaged in bringing about his Kingdom. And I have to assume that if he's called me, he's given me the skills I need. It doesn't often feel like that. Usually I'm floundering in a sea of indecision not knowing the best way to lead. Perhaps I should trust my instincts more. Perhaps I should pray for wisdom and then be brave enough to move in what I believe is the right direction.

How to build an altar

After issuing the ten commandments on Mount Sinai, the next instructions that God gives to Moses are how to build an altar: keep it simple, make it of earth, and if you must use stones then stick with natural rocks rather than cut stones. So why is it that not too much later God gives long detailed instructions for an elaborate place of worship which includes a carefully-crafted acacia-wood altar overlaid with bronze?

One answer might be that over the years different traditions within Judaism have preserved different stories about Moses, each biased by their own particular emphases and that the book of Exodus is a compilation of different accounts. But even so the question remains - "What is God saying through these contrasting passages?"

On the one hand we should give our best to God - using the richest materials, the most skilled artisans, the highest quality worship. But we mustn't ever let this lead us from one of the most basic commandments, "Do not make and worship idols." If ever the pomp and ceremony become a god in their own right, then the simple ways are a healthy counterbalance. Just worship with whatever materials you have to hand. Don't waste time on fancy words or elaborate systems. Simply worship God.

A personal application: Not so much when it comes to worship, but when it comes to getting done all the things a minister should, I am very good at crafting elaborate systems for monitoring my task list and motivating my actions. At their best they are beautiful works of art which honour God by enabling me to be the most efficient person I can be. (This is an ideal situation I'm talking about, not my regular state of being.) But the closer I come to a beautifully organised lifestyle, the more my time-management systems are in danger of becoming an idol. I need to know when to forget the carefully-honed framework and just get on with doing what God wants.

What size Bible chunks?

Taking the 'daily bread' image of the manna one stage further (see here for earlier blog), I noticed that when manna first appeared those who collected a large amount did not have too much and those who collected a small amount did not have too little. If this aspect of God's miraculous provision continued, my logical mind says that people would have gravitated towards collecting small amounts and saving themselves too much effort. But if we apply the same idea to the daily reading of the Bible, what do we conclude?

That reading twice as much does not mean God speaks to you twice as much. The person reading many chapters at one sitting and the person focusing on one single sentence are equally blessed. Both ways of reading are important and valuable, but mere volume doesn't confer greater insight. If we are open and receptive to God, then he will give us just the right nourishment for the day, no more, no less.

Fun Boy Three and Civil Disobedience

Long ago Pharaoh issued an edict that all new-born Hebrew boys were to by thrown into the Nile. This edict presumably was not in force for any great length of time - it doesn't seem to have applied to Moses's older brother Aaron, and at the time of the exodus from Egypt there was no shortage of Hebrew male adults. But whilst the edict was in force, two parents came up with a clever plan. They did what they were commanded and abandoned their baby in the Nile. But rather than throw him in, they placed him carefully amongst the reeds in a basket.

Civil disobedience in this case meant keeping to the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. I'm not sure what moral to draw from this as I'm not feeling any great present need for civil disobedience. Perhaps there's a broader principle at stake: if you have to do something because there's no choice, it is still important to find the right way to do it because the way you do it can make a vital difference to the outcome. Or in the immortal words of Fun Boy Three, "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it."

Second chances

One of the key events in Israel's history was the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. Moses produced stone tablets containing the ten commandments, and there were many other rules laid down by which the people should live and worship God. And the whole thing happened twice.

The first time was spoiled by the people's sin, turning from their God to making and worshipping a golden calf. This resulted in an angry God, in the killing of many perpetrators and almost (if it weren't for Moses pleading on their behalf) the end of Israel. Basically a disaster of the first order. Where do you go from there? This is where the grace of God comes to the fore. Out of the total wreckage of his plans, he is ready to begin again, to repeat the whole process of law-giving and get his plans for the people back on track.

Without wanting to go into any details in a public blog, this principle is very pertinent to a situation I am facing at the moment. God is a God of second chances - in the big things of life as well as the small.

Connect to God for regular updates

The law given via Moses was not God's final word on the subject. Built in to the laws were the idea of moving on (leaving the carrying posts in the ark of the covenant), freshness (lamps always lit and bread always on display) and regular updates (God's promised to meet with the people from between the wings of the cherubim on the cover of the ark.) In other words, God did not say "Here's all you need to know. Now get on with it. That's that. I'm off." He said "Here are the basic rules, but they include instructions on how to meet me for continued guidance."

These days you don't just buy the initial software, but you connect to the web for updates to the latest version. Perhaps a better analogy is a social networking site or a multi-player game where the whole point of the software is to put you in touch with other people. The Bible contains all we need to know to get started, and is sometimes the channel by which we meet God. But what really matters are regular encounters with the Living Word.

Creator of the heavens

To the ancient world the created universe consisted of a vast star-studded dome, an earth beneath flourishing with life and an ocean which also teemed with life in its mysterious depths. For the people of Israel, the idea that the one who created this impressive universe would choose to be 'their God' and take an active interest in their welfare led them to wonder and to worship.

We have a much better understanding of the nature of the universe than they did. The earth is more complex and astounding than anyone can understand. Strange creatures inhabit the sea depths in pitch blackness and under tremendous pressure. And as for the sky above us - the far reaches of space are unimaginably vast. All the stars we see are only a local cluster. The size of our solar system is minuscule compared with the galaxy around us - let alone the millions of other bigger and brighter galaxies scattered across creation.

So we ought to be struck dumb with awe that the creator of all this has not only taken an interest in the human race, but came and lived among us. There are not enough exclamation marks to do justice to the wonder of it...

Arm supports (gain without pain)

The story of Israel's battle against the Amalekites has always struck me as a bit of a cheat. The army only win as long as Moses is holding his arms up. But he gets tired. So he sits down and two aides come and hold his arms up for him. It's as if he's taking advantage of 'the rules' to get something for nothing. Instead of having to put the effort in himself, he gets the same results with others doing the work - and much easier work at that.

But maybe that's the point of the story. Sometimes getting the job done is what matters, and if there's a short cut which saves you exhausting yourself in the process, then go for it. I can think of times when I have done things the hard way in order to impress others with my sacrificial dedication. Such behaviour doesn't impress God. He'd rather me use my intelligence to act efficiently, especially when that involves teamwork and sharing the burden.

Time management idolatry

The second commandment is not to make and worship idols. One Bible commentator said it was easy to worship an idol: you just put it on a pedestal and expected miracles from it. This is a good description of what I sometimes do with my latest time-management technique. I find a simple pithy principle which I think has the power to transform my life and I devote to it all my time and energy. Memo to self: remember to treat any new technique as a tool and not an idol.